I felt exactly like Brian. I love this site it is therapeutic. Brian is business man and a fan. I don't know how he stays as objective as he does. Go look at 11 warriors, and other sites, we are so spoiled.

I will defer to the paid staff if they wish to remove this one, but appreciation for the founder of this blog and provider of this space is definitely not a bad thing to show. Indeed, I am grateful to be able to interact with some of the most fanatical Michigan people on the face of the Earth here, and I am thankful that I am trusted to help defend this blog and its purpose through being a mod.

You have created a site here that has grown perhaps beyond anyone's initial expectations. There are many reasons for this, but two of them come immediately to mind. The first - your emotion. You've maintained your status as a fan, not a media member, and that makes your take on all thing Michigan so much more genuine and powerful. There will be times when your emotions rub people the wrong way, but that's going to happen now that your site has so many followers. Hell, OSU fans were ripping Herbie today because he shook the hand of a wounded warrier wearing Michigan clothing. As your fan base has grown, there are no doubt a few Michigan equivalents to those idiots - don't let them affect who you are or the product you produce!

The second thing that I think makes your site great is the analysis. We don't get puff pieces about what a great guy the third string fullback is or how Michigan is working on their execution this week. You illustrate to us why things work, why they don't, and what could happen in the future. Don't lose sight of that as you deal with stubborn fans or coaches who bring you down. Show us why the offense isn't working, how it could work if run correctly, and how other teams are succesful with it.

We need you Brian! Help see us through this painful time in Michigan football!!! Don't give up on us just because some morons are giving you crap!

Seriously, to all you guys who contribute and to Brian for providing a place that usually has great discussion on all things Michigan.

When push comes to shove we have some of the most loyal and fantastic fans in college sports. We have outliers and a lot of us have been known to have our less than stellar moments (or maybe that's just me ;-)) but in the end we all love our University and want them to kick ass at everything all the time no matter how unrealistic that may be.

So once again thanks to all of you guys for giving us a place to throw our two cents in.

this is my first post ever, but seems like a good time to let you all know how much your work is appreciated. thanks for being candid and having a point of view. I may not agree with you a few times but I still respect your opinions and this community.

Thank you, Brian! It's been a rough fall and some M fans have shamed themselves. But I hope you don't forget how many people (the vast, vast majority) greatly appreciate what you do.

I have become a more informed and passionate fan from reading your stuff over the years. For Free. That is awesome, and I've never stopped thinking that even in spite of the rough couple years we've had. Thank you!

I've been an mGoReader since 2005, and this may have been the most trying and frustrating stretch of Michigan football I've experienced since then. Yet regardless of the challenges, I'm thankful these keepers of the key have created a place that I'm always excited to peruse on a daily basis.

I get so much out of the content and camaraderie here - it's all thanks to Brian and his staff. I might not always agree with them, but I always appreciate their opinions. Like always, this site will help us through the long offseason, and I can't wait to buy Brian's new magazine next year. GoBlue!!

I sincerely appreciate having a fantastic place to feed my obsession with my favorite team and alma mater.

The negativity and lack of civility from some of the people who post comments can be frustrating; I hope you realize there are tons of people like me who enjoy this blog every day, and are grateful for everything you and your team do.

Will throw in my two cents here. The writing style and sense of humor we get in all of the articles here are awesome and as best I can tell unique to this site, I' m glad Brian, Ace, Seth, BISB and the rest of the crew do what they do. This site is a great place for Michigan fans and I appreciate the effort that goes into it to bits.

Special thanks to the staff and especially Seth who took the time to respond to me and write the piece about a family friend, Jack "The Magician" Weisenburger. Thanks again, Seth. I spent some time with his family over the holiday and they all loved the piece.

He should get some special appreciation for being as accessible/helpful as he is.

Brian needs no elaboration, IMO. Ace is a genuinely nice guy that takes his (seemingly non-serious) job very seriously and has done a hell of a job becoming a great contributor to the site. Heiko I haven't really had much interaction with but he seems like good people and hopefully he'll cure cancer. BiSB is the most exceptional golden retriever I have ever encountered.

My days would be much less enjoyable without MGB. And some of the best stuff isn't even Michigan related (I'm thinking of the David Foster Wallace post). Now THAT'S a good sports blog. Keep it up Dear Leader.

Brian, sincere thanks for this blog. It is my favorite source for Michigan football (even during the rough times), but also good humor and laughs (usually). This hasnt been the greatest of years for myself either, but this blog is a source of great enjoyment for me, and for that I am truly greatful. Keep up the good work, and remember how many people out there really love this place.

I want to direct this especially at Brent Jones (@dawggoblue on the twitters) who tweeted at Brian: "if you were to quit being a Michigan fan no one would care. Remember that. Get off your soapbox."

I single him out, from all th poeple Brian retweeted, because this guy in particular deserves public shaming. Few have done more to improve the knowledgeability of the Michigan fanbase than Brian, and our fanbase would not only miss but also be hurt by losing Brian much more than losing Brent, myself, or virtually any other individual fan. I probably will never agree with Brian regarding the best offensive scheme (I much prefer a West coast offense predicated on timing routes and setting an under center running game up with the pass to the spread concepts that Brian espouses). However, without what I have learned on this site, I would not be knowledgeable enough to legitimately discuss these ideas. Nor would I recognize that one of the reasons I like the West coast offense is the 3 and 4 wide sets which spreads the defense, thereby serving many of the same functions that the "spread" does; that is preventing defenses from being able to cheat.

I too have been lurking on this site for many years, but have been provoked into finally making an account in light of the recent shitstorm. Brian, yourself and Spencer Hall are my two greatest internet heroes; I've been following you guys since I was in high school, and I don't know how I would possibly be able to stay as well informed about this glorious game or the team I love without you. Please, ignore the trolls, and take heart that your work is greatly appreciated to those who actually care about Michigan Football.

I've been reading the "front page" of this website for a few years now, but never got big into the board. To me this site is one that provides, analyzes, and critiques information about Michigan sports. I personally find that extremly valuable and interesting. So to Brian, Seth, et al, keep up the good work, you put out a great product.

Like most places on the internet, there is an annoying dose of nitpickyness and condescension on this blog among posters and it's the main reason I don't post much. But I've been reading this blog for years almost religiously and I personally consider it the definitive word on Michigan football, a topic I am very passionate about and have been since I was old enough to understand the game while watching Michigan play on Saturdays with my dad 20+ years ago.

I don't feel closure until I read Ace's wrap-up and I don't want to jump to any conclusions until I read Brian's analysis and UFRs. I don't always agree, but I agree a great deal of the time with Brian's perspective. This blog is, dare I say, revolutionary in sports journalism and I sincerely appreciate what Brian and the rest of the contributors do here, as I am sure so many of us silent supporters do.

I am very appreciative of Brian and MGoBlog staff. As someone that is living in the middle of Iowa, this blog has, over the past couple years, became my lifeline to the fanbase (so I don't feel so alone on the world j/k). I really enjoy this board. However, the negativity recently has been annoying. I kind of relate MGoBlog to a bunch of fans sitting at a bar talking Michigan sports - some guys getting a little too excited, but are tolerable and their beating of dead horses become kind of comical. But recently, it seems that we have a couple of drunk assholes showing up to just get in a fight. Hopefully, Brain and the staff can figure out a way to bounce these idiots out. Maybe we need a cover charge?

As stated by others, I feel that Ace's and Brian's write ups are the end of the "game experience" - we have the build up to the weekend's game, the game itself, then the analysis from the MGoBlog staff - I know see this as the complete experience. Also, really love the podcast - please continue these thru at least the b-ball season - they are really enjoyable to listen to, even when they are talking about painful games.

I spend most of my time reading rather than posting. I for one really appreciate the hard work running a site like this. I do my best to tune out the negativity especially on how this season has turned out.

I know it seems weird when you write something about football and someone comes back with a personal attack. A lot of people sitting at a keyboard like to pick a fight they would never have the guts to start in real life. Or they play the opposite game just to be difficult.

My suggestion: Don't be afraid to let things flow.

I agree with Brian that no one should never get comfortable with losing.

Brian has made something amazing here, cut from whole cloth and a marvel to behold. Can you imagine what the mgoblogosphere would be like without this treasure?

I remember trying to keep up with Michigan football by reading newspaper articles on the Internet - what a woeful state of affairs that was.

I hope Brian finds a way to negotiate his new status in life, not just as simple maintainer of this blog but as a bit of a public figure. Putting yourself out there can be painful, especially if you're not too thick-skinned.

I find it sad that all the snowflake threads and complaining about AB threads get a bazillion posts and an appreciation thread for the guy who developed this awesome site gets < 100. Hopefully that's because the thread was started late in the evening or something but given the state of things lately I'm not altogether confident of that.

To Brian and the rest of he staff: I do appreciate all you do for this community of loyal UM fans and for much of this season it was this very site that kept me sane. I love many of the personalities that frequent this site (there are obviously a few exceptions, but not too many) and enjoying spending far too much of my time here.

To Brian and his team. The blog users have changed the culture on the board and comments the last few years but the overall content of the blog has remained a constant staple that has provided hours and hours of great reading. Again thank you to Brian, his team, and all the mods that keep mgoblog the best football blog.

There are plenty of Michigan blogs out there, but none comes close to the depth of analysis and quality of writing on this site. It's hard to articulate how much Brian has done for the fanbase by creating this site. I know that I'm a better and more knowledgable fan as a result of it. It's a shame how many people take this site for granted while spending so much time reading it. Bitch all you want, I guess, but remember, you aren't paying for its content and Brian doesn't owe you anything.

Thank you Brian for all you do. Here's hoping for a football season in the near future that doesn't repeatedly kick you in the balls.

I would not be the fan I am today if it weren't for MGoBlog. I know that sounds corny * Infiniti but my understanding of the game, the strategy, the players, coaches the AD- everything could be traced back to my reading of MGoBlog. This kind of information is not just readily available for anyone to find, but it has been put in a place that is accessible (and free) and presented in an entertaining way.

and the entire staff at MGoBlog. This has been an extremely trying period in my long fandom of Michigan Football. Having coverage of the team that is competent, informative, insightful, and humerous has made it just a little less bearable.

I've read Brian's work since at least 2005 when a Michigan coworker introduced me to it. We were both B1G fans living in exile in the DC area and were hungry for more B1G news and info than what we would find localy. I had been sharing Ozone columns with him and he finally found this and the MZone. While I often commented over there I resisted the temptation to post here. There was a playful nature to the MZone that I felt more comfortable with.

However, I read MgoBlog daily. I find it a fascinating insight into the Michigan program (yes, I can use the word.). I think the years of exile made me a different kind of fan than had I never left Central Ohio.

Enough about me, though, I just hope Brian continues the blog and can come to some kind of peace. I'm not sure if he'll ever be truly content, I'm not sure if it is in his nature. I did almost send something to the bowling alley, but couldn't figure out what to send and what message to send with it that wouldn't come across as smugly superior.

Brian, you have a great site. I admire your passion and your ability to keep going even though most of the last seven seasons have not been what you hoped to see from the team you love. I was attending OSU during part of the Cooper years. Met my wife at OSU and we have five degrees between the two of us from there. We suffered through the Cooper era and didn't have to do it everyday with our hopes and opinions out there for the world to read. Again, I admire your passion, your hard work and your ability to deal with the critics and naysayers. You have a great staff. You and they do great work and college football would be less informed and less entertaining without you and your cohorts.

Good luck with your changes and good luck to your team in the bowl. I'm one of this weird Buckeyes that like to see you do well except when playing us.

I missed you guys this season now that Yost is going mostly twitter only. I went by my real world first name over there, most everywhere else I go with this handle, at least since 06 when we moved back.

I think I saw a post here from you saying you and your sister were going to the game. Hope you had a good time even though it didn't end the way you wanted.

Keep up the good work and don't let the trolls get to you too much. Like many others have said, I greatly appreciate this blog and all the work that goes into it. It sounds like we'll be getting the ability to neg bomb trolls into oblivion, which should help as well.

As a girl who is obsessed with Michigan football, basketball and hockey, but lives in the middle of nowhere in Syracuse, this site is a godsend. I hate that this year the trolls seem to have taken over the boards and comments but I know it will get back on track. I also hate all of the personal attacks and can't understand how Brian deals with it all the time. From one very grateful MGoUser, thank you!

As a first time poster and long time lurker, I want to thank Brian and all of the staff for what they do for us - the true MICHIGAN fan. I stumbled on to Mgoblog years ago after being fed up with the crap on mlive. The quality of the work on this site is unbelievable. I love the sharing of information and the snarky humor that exists in this community. It wouldn't break my heart if you sent all the haters and trolls back to mlive where they belong......

Thanks Brian and mgostaff. I appreciate all the great content that sets this site apart. It's unfortunate that the level of intelligence and wit in the writing goes over people's heads and leads to negativity. I hope the return of the moderating system will clean up the unnecessary vitriol.

I reached the last post and found my exact thoughts. I live in a backwater in SW Michigan with most fans rooting for ND and/or MSU. I have to drive 50 miles to find a group to watch the games with, but I can get on Mgoblog instantaneously and find some soulmates and perspective.

What Brian has created is a phenomenon. His writing is terrific and we all love his ability to state facts and feelings with wit, creativity and, most of all, humor.

I've followed for years. (I should have written down the year I discovered the site.) What I most appreciate is the recruiting news from the staff AND outstanding contributors, the spontaneous wit that suddenly appears in a string of comments and the detail of the analysis.

Mgoblog is evolving with news on and props to many of the other sports that are gradually moving to elite levels of performance.

Let's keep being classy and not apologize for banning trolls or others who don't belong on this site.

Thanks to you, Brian, we have a wonderful forum here. Without your leadership and the talented staff you have attracted, it not would be as rich, varied or interesting. Let the passion continue!

I discovered this blog more than 5 years ago and it has become a standard part of my day. What Brian and the rest have developed and delivered is unique among any blogs, sports or otherwise, that I have encountered. Their efforts are very much admired and appreciated.

Brian's recent frustration is understandable. This season has altered the blog significantly. The overwhelming amount of commentors who choose to share their opinion on any and everything has cluttered the site and made it utterly depressing and nearly pointless to read.

In the past, there was an unspoken understanding that any posts and comments should add value to the discussion - either with information or well thought opinion. Now, it's just off-the-top, emotion-fueled drivel, and very angry, depressing drivel at that.

As you age, you begin to understand the long-view of situations in life, and learn to accept the immediate moments and not overreact. There are far too many posters who are interested in being heard and sharing their immediate emotion in every moment.

In the past MGoBlog - this immediacy only happened during the Live Blog, not in the forums. Now, all forums are mini-live blogs - repeditive, emotional, caught in the moment with no thought or perspective.

Change needs to happen. Only Brian can decide what it will be. Charge us. I will gladly pay. Reintroduce the point system. I will gladly participate. Whatever it takes to allow the valuable part of this blog to return to its higher position. I look forward.

Stiff upper lip and all that, chap! I get tired of reading all the differing view points and negativity but I can just decide not view or post; you are the master and commander who really doesn't have that choice. For every dork that comes to the site there are 10 of us who are not (hopefully more and not less, lol) that really appreciate all you do for Michigan fandom.

I have been following football since before Bo was hired and even had the privilege of covering Michigan football for a couple of years while I was on the Daily -- yeah, 24-12; I worked the game for ABC. I found about this site while watching the Horror in a bar. I have followed it religiously ever since and have learned more about football in that period than in the entire 40 years before. I also write for a fantasy baseball site. Keeping the content fresh and timely -- and sane -- is no easy task. The team at MgoBlog does a phenomenal job of doing just that -- and I'm sure that is a testament to Brian's leadership. I don't always agree with the guys, but if we all did, then this wouldn't be nearly as good a site as it is.

This year has been extremely disappointing. I shared the apathy that clearly influenced the Monday column. I spent the latter part of the week watching clips of underdogs prevailing in an effort to get psyched for The Game and didn't really succeed, but while losing is never a satisfactory outcome, I feel like I think I would have felt if Michigan hadn't made the miraculous comeback in the first UTL -- disappointed but not upset. For the first time since Notre Dame, I have a sense that things will get better -- regardless of who's the OC. After all we're just 11 points away from a BCS bid -- and we're not Florida!

Brian is the best sports writer I have ever seen, and the rest of the staff is terrific as well. I really enjoy reading everything, even the serious analysis includes comic relief, which is essential for seasons like this one.

Great site, great writing, mostly great fans. Thanks to Brian and everyone else (including many posters) who make this site what it is: the best.

Edit: Forgot to mention the mods...you all do a terrific job of weeding through the shitstorms and your decisions to nuke or not nuke are usually spot on. It wouldn't do to tolerate everything, or be too heavy handed with the flamethrower. Your balance is important. Nice work.

Based on the roughly 8-9 hours per day I'm here I think it's safe to say I like the place very much. It's like a second family in many ways except this family doesnt roll their eyes and get bored when I want to talk Michigan sports for hours on end.

I expect Michigan Football to be elite not just like OSU buy better than OSU. I expect Michigan to play and win the Big Ten championships every year. I expect Michigan to dominate their rivals every year. That's why Hoke was brought here 3 years ago, but he did not meet those goals. Next year, Michigan will likely lose to ND, MSU, and OSU again put Hoke 2-2 vs ND, 1-3 vs MSU, 1-3 vs OSU.

I think you meant to respond to the "Unreasonable things I expect to happen" thread found a bit down the page. This is the Brian Cook appreciation thread - sorry for any confusion the title caused you.

On a more serious note, thanks for putting your soul into this blog. This site is second to none. Also, thanks for not converting our logins to Facebook logins..... or maybe this is in your master plan?

I believe it's some of the best sportswriting in the country. Mgoblog provides added depth and coverage that the MSM can only dream of. All with personal twists and insights that are very entertaining to read.

It's added welcome (and addicting) layers of depth to the joy and misery of being a Michigan fan. Keep up the good work fellas. You have nothing to apologize for, or defend, and you know it. GO BLUE!

I've been reading this site since 2005 and have never felt compelled to start an account and post until now.

MGoBlog is a treasure to the Michigan football community. I hope Brian understands the trolls on Twitter or here mocking him represent but a sliver of fans in comparison to the thousands whose who make multiple visits here per day and cherish the content of this site, regardless of whether they agree with the views of its writers.

I was concerned it was only a one sided pro Michigan athletic department site. Initially, I had my concerns but this year I found that Brian and his team are not hesistant to criticize and more importantly nor are the posters.I believe part of this is doing away with the negative grading and allowing posts that express their anger at not only the team but the the coaches.

As a result, the site has more credibility and relevance. Keep up the good work!

please. Brian founded the blog and generally does a very good job. However, this is his paying JOB now (good for him) and he is making enough money to have employees...... so taking a little email shit from your customers doesnt seem like much of a hardship.

and while "Fickle" was a fine column that captured the emotion of the moment, his prediction of a 39-0 win for OSU was juvenile at best and worthy of Chicken Little. Anyone in the M administration and football program who read or heard of the prediction will now consider the "journalism" of MGoBlog to be second rate. But spin on, appreciation thread!

PS my huge neg of points is the result of my suggesting Hoke/Borges blew the Big Ten last year at Nebraska by not having a real backup QB ready, despite having the frequently dinged Denard at QB......

No one ever, ever agrees with another person 100%. This site is noteworthy for not only having great content from the staff but also excellent comments sections. I'm a newbie to the site, having looked around for someplace to hang out after my longtime (and always) favorite blogger decided he had real life to live... you know who you are....you are forgiven but dang it I will have to follow 2 blogs when you return...

anyway, this site is a little intimidating at the beginning but gets easier to navigate in time. And no question about it, there was so much more enjoyment to be had from this depressing season, courtesy of MGoBlog. Great analysis, a little snark, always entertaining.

part of the fun of watching football with other humans is the exchange of opinions. I had my own very strong opinion of not going for the extra point yesterday, and we are still debating it today ;) Others around us also had their take on it. What keeps this being fun, win or lose, is knowing my opinions don't mean anything, and consistently showing up to support those who are doing the job. Similarly, I don't have to agree with everything said here, to have a blast on the site. Kudos to Brian, the entire staff and knowledgeable commentators.

The contribution you guys make for Michigan sports news, and more importantly analysis, is much appreciated. The board has gotten frustrating with dumb posters over the last couple years...there's a lot of us out here though that read, listen, and look forward to more.

Your team has turned MGoBlog into my favorite website for the past four years or so now. Even in the offseason I find myself checking at least two or three times a day for new content. I actually pick up a lot of news info from the MGoBoard before outlets like CNN!

Great job, please keep on truckin. I don't know what I would do without all the info you provide!

I read a lot of blogs about Michigan sports, sports in general and politics. I think that Mgoblog has some of the most consistently excellent writing and analysis anywhere regardless of genre or budget. I began reading this site during the year of infinite pain. Among the highlights over the years include the Bo (7 swans) tribute, breaking the Carr retirement story and some of the UFRs during the Denard era (dilithium).

Wherever I meet Michigan fans -- east coast, west coast or abroad -- everyone who's serious about Michigan football reads this site.

Hang in there, man! Don't let the mouth-breathers keep you down! This is the best sports site known to man, and we are all indebted to your incredible work!

Also, if you are looking to bring in someone to take care of these self-loathing degenerates for you, then I would like to submit my application for hire. I will accept payment in the form of beer and hot pockets, and I will need to be supplied with a trident and a tricycle in order to successfully conduct business.

I really enjoy all the content on this site and very much appreciate all the blood, sweat and tears that go into producing it each week.

I read the front page content religiously and am undoubtedly a more informed and better fan for doing so.

during the RR years and all the controversy I got caught up for some time in the forum and trying to debate/fight over what should happen and at the end I just stopped going there at all and did not miss the divisiveness, pettiness and overall feeling of rancor at times from a group that should supposedly all be on the same side. Welcome to the internet. It was disheartening and for the most part I just stopped...although I have jumped in a little bit recently, though already feeling that I'm done with that again. Perhaps 'The Reckoning' will purge it enough to make the comments section once again enjoyable and it sucks that it ever got to the point that people attack one another and the purveyors of this site. Those that create vitriole should be purged.

I found when I restricted myself to just reading Brian & Company's main posts and some small amount of legitimate debate of their assertions from those much more knowledgeable than myself, I went right back to loving this site and checking in on a nearly daily basis.